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AICN COMICS REVIEWS Brubaker’s FATALE! VENGEANCE! DARK CRYSTAL! SONIC THE HEDGEHOG! AQUAMAN! FUBAR! Plus another @$$hole Podcast!
| Issue #41 | Release Date: 12/28/11 | Vol.#10 |
(Click title to go directly to the review)
Advance Review: FATALE #1
DARK CRYSTAL: CREATION MYTHS V1 HC GN
WITCH DOCTOR: THE RESUSCITATION One Shot
AQUAMAN #4
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #232
VENGEANCE #6
FUBAR V2: EMPIRE OF THE RISING DEAD
SUPERMAN #4
BLACK FIRE OGN
MONDO #1
AICN COMICS PODCAST #10!
Advance Review: In stores today!FATALE #1
Writer: Ed BrubakerArt: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewer: KletusCasady
Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen, ice cream & Cookies, Richard Pryor & Gene Wilder, porn & the internets, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips…see where I’m going here? This duo does some amazing things when they work together. If you are unfamiliar with these two or are new to comics, having their names at the top of a comic is basically like having an Adidas symbol on the side of your soccer shoe or having a Technics logo on the side of your turntable…what I’m getting at here is that it means you are holding a quality product in your hands. I’ve never read SLEEPER (although I‘ve heard a lot of good things about it), but CRIMINAL & INCOGNITO are really good and as far as Brubaker goes, his stuff for Marvel for the most part (CAPTAIN AMERICA 1-60 is damn near perfect, his run on DAREDEVIL is quality as hell, and I hear IRON FIST was also pretty good) have been pretty entertaining and ‘must reads’ for me. This issue puts Ed Brubaker back in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that he’s driving better than pretty much anyone: hardboiled crime stories, and in this case, with a li’l twist of evil.
The preview of this comic was of a gangster interrogating someone, trying to get information about a woman; towards the end of the questioning the man remarks that the gangster doesn’t have any idea what he’s getting into, only to have the gangster turn around with a full on Cthulu for a head (one of the covers for this issue) and say, “Oh, I think I do…” or something like that…I was totally hooked. I knew I could trust Brubaker to do a story that is well written, really grounded (a realistic feel) yet have wild elements in it but still have it work really well together.
This issue starts (like many a great detective story) with a beautiful mysterious woman, a detective who falls for said woman, and then it takes us into the awesome occult stuff this book keeps hinting at. Brubaker’s protagonists are never really bad people (well, some of them) but they’re never really that great either; however, when you find yourself rooting for these people, it’s a testament to the great character work Brubaker does on these types of comics and this issue is no different. Our protagonist here is a detective whose father, who was an author, has recently passed away and meets a troublesome woman at the funeral and from there as you can imagine things get worse for him but better for the reader. I like Brubaker’s superhero stuff (and WINTER SOLDIER is going to be great) but I think he really shines on a comic like this because I feel this is where he’s most comfortable, and that isn’t to say comics such as this are the only time he’s good but he really kicks ass on crime related stories.
As far as the art goes, Sean Phillips is really so great at conveying a certain feeling or tone in his comics, that Brubaker’s words are just icing on the cake. His art is similar to Michael Lark, Butch Guice (WINTER SOLDIER), or Steve Epting (FANTASTIC FOUR) where there isn’t anything necessarily flashy about it but the art tells a great story on its own and creates an atmosphere that fits great with Brubaker’s style. When PhilliBru team up I feel like I’m hypnotized, slowly being pulled into a web of intrigue so evil, so dense that I find myself with a ravenous urge to kill without remorse, rob without question, commit crimes without conscience...then make love to a mysterious woman (like Lady Kletus…she might be reading) on the hood of a 1965 Dodge Charger still warm from fleeing the G-men who are always one fricken’ step behind me…YOU’LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE COPPERS!!!!… {ahem}…excuse me …got kinda carried away there…basically this issue does a great job of pulling you in and holding you until you’re ultimately disappointed that there isn’t more to read.
These guys have a special chemistry that a lot of writers & artists never experience over a prolonged period of time. The art is great, and I’ve mentioned it before but creating an atmosphere is very important to my enjoyment of a comic. Every time I open one of their comics, I always feel like they’ve set up an interesting premise, created a great environment and that they’ve kept me interested in what happens to these characters no matter how flawed they are—and this issue is right up that alley. I feel like damn near every story in CRIMINAL is fantastic, not to mention movie worthy, and with the right director could be a series of great films. This comic is well written, the art is really good and as the case with all of their work, the characters, the setting, the interaction and narrative feel like a living breathing entity rather than just words and art on a page. Not sure how they always do it but I think Brubaker and Phillips have another hit on their hands. Speaking of hands, get yours on this comic as quick as you can.
Cheers to crime!
THE DARK CRYSTAL: CREATION MYTHS Vol. 1 HC GN
Writer: Brian HolguinArt: Brian Froud, Alex Sheikman, Lizzy John
Publisher: Archaia
Reviewer: MajinFu
Storytelling is the foundational communication tool of humanity. It is how we quantify and relate the world to each other, and how we come to empathize with our fellow animal. It draws us closer to the heavens, while pulling us further from our individuality, as the closeness and repetition of our various yarns become entwined and the more things change, the more they say the same.
This idea is exhibited beautifully in the new comic from the DARK CRYSTAL universe, a series of colorful origin stories and prose fables that further fleshes out the world originally seen in Jim Henson’s fantasy film. It begins with the genesis of Aughra. Folks will remember her from the movie as the one-eyed lady with the horns and the lovely demeanor, not to mention those sexy curves.Turns out she’s also the walking talking personification of the earth, born from the very rocks themselves. Brian Holguin was the original world designer for Henson’s DARK CRYSTAL film, where he originally illustrated most of the characters who would become the puppets, as well as much of the world’s flora and fauna. The new character, Aughra’s son Raunip (who was introduced in the free comic book day issue last year), fits in really well with the visual style of the other characters. I can almost imagine his puppet version moving around and talking with the Gelflings. His design is closely tied with his mother, even if there’s something about his appearance that is unsettling to me. The latter half of this issue focuses on Raunip’s conflicting views concerning the shining men who bestowed wisdom and culture to the Gelflings, and gave Aughra the Dark Crystal.
The art in the book suits the material well and sticks pretty closely to the characters’ original designs. Many of the backgrounds are kept sparse, placing a focus on the emotive figures that cover each page, all of which are illuminated by the colorful lighting that pours out of the rich, magical world and its many characters. Some of the inking is inconsistent compared to other pages, but the art is still pleasurable throughout (including some pin-ups) and serves the story well by establishing the elusive mood and tone of the original material.
DARK CRYSTAL fans that missed the comic that came out during the last Free Comic Book Day will be pleased to hear this comic also contains the content of that issue, as if you needed more incentive. If you’re not a fan of the movie, you probably won’t enjoy this as much, but for what it is, this is a nice little package that expands the mythology of a world I once feared I would never see again. These stories and images brought out the kid in me once more and they deserve to be shared with anyone who can appreciate good, honest storytelling.
WITCH DOCTOR: THE RESUSCITATION One-Shot
Writer: Brandon SeifertArt: Lucas Ketner
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewer: BottleImp
If you haven’t read the WITCH DOCTOR limited series yet—now available in trade paperback, I believe—you should do yourself a favor and get your hands on a copy. The four issue mini combines horror, humor, heroics and, most of all, a great sense of FUN in a way that feels amazingly refreshing after treading through the dreary landscape that has become the norm for the oh-so-serious comic book superhero. This RESUSCITATION one-shot is no exception, as the good (well, at least good-intentioned) Dr. Vincent Morrow is drawn into a plot to resurrect a dead Egyptian god.
As with the previous series, Seifert demonstrates his strength in making the world of magic seem more like a specialized branch of science rather than a collection of mystical mumbo-jumbo. Personally, I love it that the dark world that Dr. Morrow operates in (heh heh) has rules and structures; these give the comic a solid framework that adds a level of verisimilitude to the proceedings within the pages, even if those proceedings are as outrageous as, say, exchanging a man’s kidney with the mummified kidney of Osiris. Seifert also has a gift for humor and pop culture references (like “iocane powder,” for instance) that feel effortless rather than forced, adding again to that ease of believability in the insanity of Morrow’s world.
Ketner’s artwork is a perfect match for the script, his loose and expressive brushstrokes capturing the feelings of both the action and the liveliness of the humor. In a time when the status quo for comic art is trending towards simple linework and reliance on the color palette to provide all the shading, I enjoy the retro feeling that Ketner’s inking evokes. WITCH DOCTOR has an EC, CREEPY, EERIE kind of aesthetic that brings to mind a time when horror comics had their tongues planted firmly in their cheek.
In short, if you’ve read the previous miniseries, you know what to expect here. WITCH DOCTOR is one of the most fun comics that I’ve read in recent years, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from Seifert and Ketner about the occult adventures of Dr. Morrow and Co. I’m also hankering to see just what the heck is the deal with Penny Dreadful—hopefully I won’t have to wait too long.
When released from his bottle, the Imp transforms into Stephen Andrade, an artist/illustrator/pirate monkey painter from New England. He's currently hard at work interpreting fellow @$$Hole Optimous Douche's brainwaves and transforming them into pretty pictures on AVERAGE JOE, an original graphic novel to be published by Com.x. You can see some of his artwork here.
AQUAMAN #4
Writer: Geoff JohnsArtist: Ivan Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: Optimous Douche
On the night of the New 52 launch intrepid Ain’t It Cool reporters Matt Adler and Johnny Destructo were able to steal a few precious moments from Geoff Johns at Midtown Comics. Of course, JUSTICE LEAGUE was the news of the day, but our reporters had a much broader range of question than simple plot details and Geoff is just a damn nice guy that loves to talk comics. Naturally the conversation progressed to AQUAMAN and how Geoff was going to pull the drowning PR image of the mighty aqualung from the depths of his scaled lameness.
Geoff made two promises that night: one, AQUAMAN would be cool again and two, the world within the comic would not shy away from the real world perception that AQUAMAN is a fish out of water amongst superheroes.
Four months later, AQUAMAN stands as one of the first titles in the New 52 to give us a completed story arc, which in my estimation is the greatest vantage point to view a title’s fortitude (despite this ideology being completely contradictory to these weekly musings we offer to the Gods of comic good taste). So, did Geoff succeed or were his promises a few months ago merely mermaid song to lure us into dark murky waters?
Personally, I think Johns delivered on both promises and did so in just the perfect amount of time. As a purveyor of slow burn storytelling, Johns could have easily extended this arc for three or four more issues. But just because something is easy and you can do it doesn’t mean you should. Just look at JUSTICE LEAGUE; four issues in and we’re just hitting the climax with the introduction of Darkseid. Pre-52 there was a wealth of history and conversation that could have served as filler while the main plot sat at a tepid temperature on the back burner. No more; with no history the slow burn becomes the popcorn filler empty carbohydrates of cool poses and meaningless quips. I don’t want to turn this into a bashing of JUSTICE LEAGUE because despite its fluffy nature I am having fun with the book. It’s important to compare the two, though, because the wrongs of JUSTICE LEAGUE are severed by AQUAMAN’s drastically different approach.
Part of what made AQUAMAN so good is that it stayed focused on Aquaman; sure we had time with wife Mera, but only in the context of her husband. Also, the location stayed finite, not trying to set an entire country or oceanic shelf ablaze. All the action and the relationships focused on the sleepy sub-metropolis AQUAMAN calls home. This focus is important because when a writer puts the reader’s attention on setting and character, the danger merely becomes a motivation to help reveal the truly interesting heroic journey. Again, unlike JUSTICE LEAGUE the villains in AQUAMAN are a wholly new aquatic species that sprung from the darkest depths of the ocean. Their attack allowed for empathy and a true moral conundrum for AQUAMAN. This species of razor-finned gigantic tadpoles merely wanted the most basic staple of survival – food. Again, it doesn’t sound exciting, but it’s a relatable staple that man, animal and all hybrids in between share at the core of our being. It’s a motivation that when AQUAMAN does win the day it makes you wonder who was right and who was wrong, a quandary no one is stuck in when SUPERMAN or BATMAN defeat some costumed megalomaniac that merely wants to dominate the world for whatever purpose.
I think my prior statement of AQUAMAN saving the day was safe to throw out without spoiler warnings. We all knew that Aquaman was going to win, just as we know the Justice League will prevail…eventually. The surprise these days is how the hero wins, and this issue was a spectacular how. Johns allowed for an epic and heroic save that artist Reis was somehow able to make interesting despite the fact the battle was occurring in the murky depths of the ocean.
Now, I said Johns delivered on the promise of making the world within the book treat him as jokey as we treated the kids who were unfortunate to be given Aquaman Underoos circa Christmas 1978. At times, though, it felt heavyhanded. I think it’s because Johns is a victim of not recognizing his own talent. The jokes and tuna guffaws were awesome and appropriate in the beginning of the book, especially for readers like yours truly that never gave a flying fin about the character. By the end, though, after I learned that AQUAMAN is a loving, passionate and equitable marital partner; after I learned that his powers on land and sea were equally balanced and not too grandiose; after I learned that the jokes wound him and part of his hero journey is acceptance in the world just like all the rest of us; and finally, after I saw him save an entire town, the jokes started to feel immature and make me pretty fucking angry. There was one scene in the end of the book where one of the keystone cops had the audacity to say “well, I still don’t like him.” This was right after AQUAMAN saved the town and all of the people being held captive as fishy food. I screamed “dick” at the book. I understand Johns wants to keep this concept of self deprecation alive and well, but I implore him to keep the disdain character- and situation-appropriate.
AQUAMAN has to be my biggest surprise of the new 52. It’s the book I didn’t expect to enjoy and it turned out to be a book I waited for each month. It’s a book that I thought would bore me beyond the first arc, not be waiting with anticipation for the next arc of who actually sunk Atlantis. It’s a book I didn’t expect to care about; now I find myself wanting to see the development of Aquaman the merperson more so than my old staples Batman and Superman. Only time will tell if this revival will be as revered as Johns’ resurrection of THE FLASH and GREEN LANTERN, but if the first arc is any indicator AQUAMAN could very well become the shining beacon that speeds past all the other titles as the star of the New 52.
Optimous has successfully blackmailed fellow @$$Hole BottleImp into being his artist on Average Joe. Look for Imp's forced labor on Optimous brain child in mid-2012 from COM.X. Friend Optimous on FaceBook to get Average Joe updates and because ceiling cat says it's the right thing to do.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #232
Writer: Ian FlynnArt: Ben Bates, Jamal Peppers, Terry Austin, John Workman and Matt Herms
Publisher: Archie Comics
Reviewer: Henry Higgins is My Homeboy
I Just Realized I Did PUNISHER MAX last week, for added irony…
...I kinda enjoyed that. I read this book in passing when I was younger, but have long since abandoned it. I've taken note to read it every once in a while, but I can't remember ever thinking it had really improved. That was actually pretty entertaining. Ian Flynn has written a well constructed and engaging comic book.
Writing: (4/5) I seem to have stepped into the middle of a storyline, as one of the major characters has been captured and essentially is in the process being turned into a henchman for the villain, Eggman. As the established heroes show signs of weakness due to this, another enemy seems to be taking advantage of the moment in an attempt to seize control from them. It's fast paced and entertaining, while never overcomplicating the book.
The characters all make a strong impression, even for someone who only has a passing knowledge of these characters. A confrontation between Sonic and Knuckles is tense in just all the right ways, and the smaller moments between Sonic and his remaining allies are good as well. Even the villains (usually weak links in these kind of series) are effective here. Eggman especially has an almost chilling moment with the captured Sally.
The writing is not too nuanced, as to gel with the intended age group. But for what it is, it's an enjoyable comic.
Art: (4/5) The art team is stellar here. Matt Herms gives everything a bright and colourful appearance, jumping brightly. It looks like stills from a cartoon, in a very good way. All the characters are light in movement, and show clear, entertaining expressions. At times, though, it abandons this into a more repetitive, diet manga style. There's not terribly much to say, but it's fun as all hell.
Best Moment: The Eggman scene. I actually really enjoyed that.
Worst Moment: The art in its more anime-y style.
Overall: (4/5) It's a lot like seeing a good modern day cartoon that isn't called ADVENTURE TIME; It's not trying to change the face of comics, and is thoroughly entertaining.
VENGEANCE #6 (of 6)
Writer: Joe CaseyArt: Nick Dragotta
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: MajinFu
Just when I thought superheroes had nothing new to offer, Joe Casey and Nick Dragotta have come along and made me fall in love with the concept all over again. The story isn’t exactly new (good vs. evil in a desperate plea to survive) but the lineup is a little different, and that’s part of what makes it such a strong superhero outing. In the climactic last issue, we get to see a handful of characters that missed the FEAR ITSELF memo because they were too busy stopping the universe from being torn apart by chaos. By pitting the newly formed Teen Brigade against the newly formed Young Masters of Evil, Joe Casey has found new ways of commenting on the old hero-villain dynamic while assessing the exciting changes that come with a new age bracket of eccentric super-people.
I came into this series unfamiliar with most of the characters, except the supervillains adorning each stunningly painted cover courtesy of Gabriel Del’Otto. Still, many of the characters are so immediately striking and well-realized in their speech and actions that a majority of the cast are now some of my favorite new characters of the year, especially Miss America and Ultimate Nullifier. Still, there is so much going on across many different planes that there’s hardly any room for characterization. It begins in a Doomless Latveria, where the bad doctor’s son is suddenly assaulted by the YMofE. The Teen Brigade comes to the rescue, and things only escalate from there. Dialog is taut and funny throughout and even though there is a lot going on this issue, it never feels rush or cluttered as the story dashes to its natural conclusion.
Nick Dragotta is one of those lovely artists whose versatility allows him to illustrate the awesome power of a cosmic entity letting loose as well as he conveys the succinct intimacy of two friends reuniting. Brad Simpson’s varied use of colors lifts the visuals to a spectacular level when appropriate with bright pinks and greens, and becomes more muted when necessary (usually the more dialog-heavy moments). It’s gorgeous stuff that will no doubt look even better in the eventual collected work.
Others have referred to this book as the best event comic Marvel produced this year, and while that’s not far off, I think such a label actually limits the perceived scope of the story. It’s really a psychedelic amalgamation of the copious possibilities that are churning just under the surface of Marvel continuity. The overall story serves up a stellar cast and some outstanding action, coupled with an underlying conspiracy that simultaneously ponders upon the nature of morality, chaos and order. My one qualm after finishing the series is that it feels like I’m only getting a piece of the puzzle, a trace of the blueprint for this brave new world of Marvel.
Looking ahead…SPOILERS
I haven’t kept up with all of Joe Casey’s Marvel work but I did check out his ZODIAC mini-series. With ZODIAC, Casey had crafted a character who was every bit as unpredictable and deadly as Deadpool, but placed him squarely on the side of the bad guys. Believe me when I say fans of that series will be pleased with the ending of this book. It looks like Casey’s big plans for the Marvel Universe are just beginning to heat up, and I can’t wait to see where his varied cast of D-listers show up next.
FUBAR Vol. 2 EMPIRE OF THE RISING DEAD
Writer: Jeffrey W. McComsey and variousArtist: Various
Publisher: Fubar Press
Reviewer: Lyzard
274 pages! That was my first reaction when I first began to read FUBAR: EMPIRE OF THE RISING DEAD. I thought it would take me forever to get through this graphic novel. Instead, once finished, I wished it had been longer.
It is hard to say what is more a part of our zeitgeist--vampires or zombies? Obviously, with my background, I favor the intelligent undead. However, I must say that the zombie concoctions of the past few decades have made up their lesser quantity by having better quality. FUBAR is another strong example of how zombies kick their bloodsucker brethrens’ asses.
FUBAR: VOLUME TWO takes place in the WWII Pacific Theatre, a follow up to the first volume of FUBAR that followed the Allied and Axis forces in Europe. If you thought war was brutal, wait until you add zombies. Both sides, Americans and Japanese alike, are faced with a common enemy. Now facing two enemies, will they follow the adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend?”
This graphic novel isn’t a linear story, but instead a collection of vignettes. Each short story is done by a rotating group of writers and artists. Though the talent continually changes, there is a basic style and tone that remains in all of the tales.
I could criticize a few of the weaker stories, but why focus on the negatives when there were so many positive elements to the book in general, one of these facets being the tone? Any of the writers could have taken advantage of the absurdity of the situation, turning their piece into a dark comedy. Instead, all of the story artists maintained a serious mood with their work, keeping a focus on the tragic. The stakes are high in any war, but they are raised when zombies are thrown in. Each story shows that war is hell, yet even more so when hell rises to Earth.
It would take too long to list all of my favorite stories, so I’ll focus on my top three. “Semper Fi” (Benjamin Truman, Jeff McComsey, Steve Becker, and Timothy Truman) follows a stranded Marine who will go to any lengths to assist his friend. One must question whether his actions stem from camaraderie or desperation.
“Run Silent, Run Dead” (Stephen Lindsay, Daniel Thollin, and Jeff McClelland) is quite predictable, focusing on an American submarine caught amidst enemy vessels. Knowing this is a book about zombies, one can easily see the ending of this story coming, yet the tension does not dissipate, nor the horror.
Finally there is “Hachimaki” (Michael Isenberg, Oliver Mertz, Jeremy Massie, and Jeff McComsey). A young, naïve American soldier is forced to grow up quick when he comes face to face with the enemy. A majority of the stories featured in FUBAR: VOLUME TWO are downers, but “Hachimaki” has a sweet heart to it.
Off the top of my head I cannot think of any zombie period pieces. There is of course “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” but that novel is a comedy. When there are so many projects featuring the undead, originality is a necessity to be noticed. FUBAR has its own spin on the hungry undead, and unlike the new takes on vampires (*cough* sparkly skin *cough*), its exploration of zombies is successful.
Lyzard is actually Lyz Reblin, a senior screenwriting major with an English minor at Chapman University. Along with writing for AICN, she has been published twice on the subject of vampire films.
SUPERMAN #4
Writer: Geroge PerezArt: Jesus Merino & George Perez
Publisher: DC Comics
Reviewer: The Dean
I don’t know where George Perez is going with SUPERMAN, and I’m not sure I care anymore. There must have been a litany of reasons why DC felt this New 52 was needed, but toward the top had to have been the chance to hit the refresh button on the Man of Steel. The first step was obviously to give him that neck collar we’ve all been begging for, as those traps were downright lewd, plus he now has attire appropriate for formal occasions, such as speeches to Congress, or showing Krypto at Westminster. The more challenging, perennial task at hand was making Superman cool again to new readers, and Perez chose to do this by keeping his characterization of Superman so hidden that he’s more boring now than ever.
The story picks up with Jimmy, Miko, and Superman being interrogated by the Metropolis PD, until news breaks that Heather Kelley, former reporter turned ice monster turned missing person, is alive and well. The events that follow are an interesting combination of “who cares?” and “get to it already!” while the supporting cast debates Clark’s mental health and whereabouts, until the big ending revelation that not only are these monsters that have been attacking him Kryptonian, they were created by Superman himself. The story itself bothers me for a few different reasons, chief among them that it was chosen as a debut story, as we haven’t learned anything of worth about this new Superman yet. It isn’t the worst Superman story ever created or anything like that, but it’s among the most banal. Morrison took ACTION COMICS and made Superman young, cocky, and an ideologue - all traits he has displayed before, but shuffled to be the more dominant characteristics, and all apparent since the very first issue of his arc. George Perez made him…forgetful? This is the only standout trait I can point to after four issues of SUPERMAN, and it’s a result of alien interference, I guess.
We also can’t be too sure that we know what the relationship of Metropolis with Superman is yet, as those cops were pretty skeptical of what I thought was supposed to be the established Superman. This sort of thing would make sense in ACTION COMICS, where we know Clark is figuring this whole superhero thing out along with Metropolis, but unless he screws up big time toward the end of Morrison’s run on ACTION, I don’t understand the skeptical or apathetic-at-best attitude that this city has toward Superman. Unless of course it’s because they’re all tired of Superman drawing these freakin’ Kryptonians to their city, causing them to be late to work in the morning or dead? If there’s one thing both SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS have in common, it’s that Superman certainly is not the last anything of Krypton. I’ll gladly excuse Morrison because he’s making it fun, and because I’m a sucker for Braniac, but Perez’s generic fire, ice, and invisimonsters have me impatiently waiting for Keith Giffens and Dan Jurgens to take over in March, and hopefully pretend none of this ever happened.
I’m happy that Jesus Merino will be sticking around for the new team of Giffens and Jurgens, as outside of the quick Mort Weisinger reference in this issue, Merino’s artwork has been the only redeeming quality of the title. While he does do a great job handling the giant “f--- you” to artists everywhere that is Jim Lee’s ridiculously complicated redesign, the new Clark can use a bit of work. Clark looks a bit too similar to the one we’re seeing in ACTION, who is supposed to look a little haggard and sloppy because his life is a struggle for balance in those early years. Merino’s Clark just looks like he’s never been able to pull it together, as he just can’t find the time to comb his hair or tuck his shirt in. But again, Merino’s overall work on the series has been enjoyable, and it continues to be the only real bright spot in the title with this last issue as well.
But the artwork alone is in no way good enough for me to recommend this to anyone, even the most diehard , need to buy everything with an ‘S’ on it, Superman fan. If it weren’t for that ‘S’ I wouldn’t even be sure this was a Superman comic, as battling elemental demons and a swarm of insects seems more in line with a HELLBLAZER issue, and probably a bad one at that. So save that $2.99 a month, Superman fans, at least until March, and put it toward an issue of the far more enjoyable Weisinger titles that were brought to memory instead. That way, Perez can at least be thanked for reminding us that Superman has been much more fun in the past.
BLACK FIRE OGN
Writer & Artist: Hernán RodriguezPublisher: Archaia
Reviewer: BottleImp
Sometimes a horror story—whether in prose, film or graphic form—can be enhanced in mood by its setting. In juxtaposing the horror and violence of mankind with an older, more primeval sort of evil, the story can gain a deeper resonance and meaning. Such is the case with Hernán Rodriguez’s BLACK FIRE, which pits French soldiers from the Napoleonic War against the evil of the mythological Czernobog, the Russian god of death, fire and darkness. But though the graphic novel is successful in many ways in its depiction of a battle between good and evil, there is one flaw in the story that ultimately keeps it from attaining its full potential as a great graphic work.
The strongest thing that BLACK FIRE has going for it is its sense of atmosphere. The entire graphic novel is imbued with a pervading mood of dread and fear, and not just your run-of-the-mill, standard monster-comic willies. The very real horror of the frigid Russian winter is nearly as great a menace to the story’s protagonists as the evil Slavic deity. Indeed, for the first good third of the book the combination of frostbite and near-starvation in the deserted village the soldiers are trapped in gives the reader an almost palpable feeling of isolation and despair. Once the supernatural element comes more fully into play, those emotions quickly turn to terror. Both Rodriguez’s script and visuals work together well to convey the book’s tone, but it’s his drawing style that puts the fear into each page. Rodriguez works in a quasi-expressionist style, with masterful use of heavy black areas as well as scratchier linework that evoke the aforementioned emotional responses. It reminds me a lot of Ted McKeever’s style, though Rodriguez never goes quite as gonzo with his figures as McKeever usually does. The use of color is also expertly handled, with the bleak snowbound village rendered in muted blues and grays, while the evil power of Czernobog flares up off the page in reds and oranges, all balanced by the judicious use of solid black inks.
If the plot were as innovative and expertly handled as the artwork, this graphic novel would be an instant classic. The one weakness that I found in reading BLACK FIRE, however, is in its instant familiarity. Unfortunately, nearly every beat of the story echoed back the plot points of the famous F. Paul Wilson fantasy-horror novel “The Keep.” We have the soldiers trapped in a foreign land—in this case Napoleonic troops in the village of Nogrod; in Wilson’s book Nazis in the titular Keep—an ancient evil unwittingly released from imprisonment, a weapon to defeat that evil being found within the place of imprisonment, and even a destined savior marked by his unique physical appearance—here the French soldier Serpierre’s albinism; in “The Keep” the red hair of the near-immortal Glaeken. The dark god in BLACK FIRE even speaks and acts through the bodies of the dead, like a puppeteer through a marionette…and much like the evil Molasar does to the murdered Nazi soldiers in “The Keep.” Constant reminders such as these examples kept me from getting truly immersed in Rodriguez’s story, as I was jolted out of the narrative each time I was struck by such similarities between the two works. I can’t help but think that Rodriguez was heavily influenced by Wilson’s novel (or maybe even the DEEPLY flawed Michael Mann film from the 1980s based on the book), whether consciously or subconsciously. And Hernán, if you’ve never read or seen “The Keep,” I’m sorry, pal—I guess it’s just one of those strange cases of synchronicity that spans decades and continents.
It is this familiarity of concept that limits this graphic novel’s impact, making BLACK FIRE (for those of us who have read “The Keep”) an extremely well-executed yet seemingly unoriginal story. If you’ve never read the F. Paul Wilson book or seen the ‘80s-tastic movie, however, BLACK FIRE is a journey into horrors both earthly and supernal that will undoubtedly resonate with fans of dark fantasy.
MONDO #1
Writer/Art: Ted McKeeverPublisher: Image Comics
Reviewer: MajinFu
“B’gok!”
It’s hard to describe what actually happens in the story so far, since McKeever seems to be going for the slow burn approach for the first issue. A severely malnourished derelict named Catfish who works in a factory where he “enhances” poultry is scorned by those around him…until he suffers an incredible physiological transformation from a work-related accident. A mysterious rogue chicken is involved in all the fowl play, and people are no doubt going to get hurt in the next issue.
That’s the basic premise, a simple one that nonetheless feels very fresh thanks to the moody execution by writer/artist Todd McKeever. His surrealist approach teeters between graffiti-like stylizations and stark realism to great effect, particularly in his illustrations of chickens. The black and white illustrations are frequently steeped in shadow, creating an ominous mood that still somehow feels the teensiest bit silly. The numerous shifts in perspective and creative compositions guide the reader’s eye along Catfish’s twisted path…toward what, we don’t know. Startling visual inconsistencies give way to ominous hints of what is to come for our poor hero. Is it redemption, revenge, or is he just looking for a hot meal and a community that respects him? The story is simple, yet it offers so many intriguing possibilities through the little hints in the plot that I can’t help but get wonder where exactly this series will go next.
My one criticism is that many of the characters are rather one-dimensional in their relentless bullying of Catfish, but again this is only the first issue and it looks like the dynamic could take a sharp turn in the other direction by next issue.
Fans of Guillory and Layman’s CHEW should check this book out. Fans of earlier Image comics will probably also enjoy this, since it is tonally similar to something like MAXX, but more sinister. At times the story recalls some of the harsher humor from that series, while maintaining a style that is entirely unique and incredibly gritty by comparison. It’s a rough yarn, not for the faint of heart or alektorophobics. But no matter how you cut it, it’s 32 pages of solid comics.
AICN COMICS PODCAST #10
Looks for more of the Holes rambling about comics on Poptards in future AICN COMICS columns!
Proofs, co-edits & common sense provided by Sleazy G
Check out AICN COMICS on Facebook and Comixpedia.org!
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comic books.
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I'll make due with this comic.
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I am a dumb-dumb.
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are you guys just gonna talk about superhero comics every week?
Gates of Gotham was pretty cool though. Snyder's Detective was coming out around the same time. Bat Heaven. -
Issue 232?! Wow, I had no idea. That's quite a run. It's more issues than The Adventures of Ralph Snart, that's for damn sure. Also, just for the sake of mentioning something I actually read in this column, I quite enjoy the aquaman. One of my favorites of the new 52.
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I think this every time I see the movie. Every damn time.
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Jan 04, 2012 8:11:20 AM CST
Black Fire is the only thing up there that seems interesting to me
by rev_skarekroe
The big publishers just aren't floating my boat. I'm not invested in anything that's going on the superhero world. Maybe I've finally grown up after 37 years - or maybe they're just not telling compelling stories at the moment.
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He's finally got a good comic book! Though I agree Johns can be a bit heavy handed combating the 'lame view' of Aquaman. Just kick him kicking @$$ and looking good doing it (and not allow a fish (!?!) to bite his hand off), Aquaman will be cool again. Remember they made a cartoon of him before Batman!
Plug- Check out my comic book, Cindy Li:
http://www.toonocity.com
It's free! -
Jan 04, 2012 9:04:38 AM CST
"A confrontation between Sonic and Knuckles is tense in just all the right ways, and the smaller moments between Sonic and his remaining allies are good as well."
by righteousbrother
If that statement doesn't make you want to start reading comics, then nothing will.
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Jan 04, 2012 10:02:31 AM CST
Brian Froud was the original conceptual designer for Dark Crystal
by kungfuhustler84
I should know, I just saw his name in the credits of the movie last night.
Special thanks to Elliot Cowan as well for first addressing the typo. -
The Dean is correct: ACTION has somehow hooked into what can only be described as an "Occupy Metropolis" vibe. The parallels between this version of Superman and the original 1930s version -- "champion of the oppressed," not "the American Way" -- are worth a whole @$$hole analysis article. (Does Grant Morrison have a time scope, and uses it to scan the future for timely topics?)
The main Supes title, however, Just Doesn't Get It. This Superman is, as The Dean says, a cypher, as if he's afraid of giving an opinion anymore.
But Perez has owned up to this and is moving aside. He is at his best as an artist/writer when teamed with a great writer. -
As a longtime Superman fan neither Superman or Action has been my cup of tea. So looks like DC took an oldtime Supes fan and just made him completely not give a shit anymore. Good job DC. I mean, it's not like the Supes books before the 52 re-boot were setting the comics world on fire but at least it would seem like creative teams were at least TRYING to do something interesting every once in a while. After that last issue of Action Comics I just really wanted to throw it out the window...I mean, the big thing is bringing STEEL back? STEEL??? Really? Ugh. Screw this new DC. Screw it in its Kryptonian ass.
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So I can't discount his abilities as a writer. But that was close to, what, thirty years ago so...
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A recent quote from editorial sums it up: "We have complete faith in Judd (Winnik), Scott (Lobdell), and George (Perez) as writers." (you could throw J.T. Krul, Dan Jurgens, and Ron Marz into that sentence, too). It's a concise owning-up to just plain having bad taste.
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Jan 04, 2012 3:22:40 PM CST
Animal Man, Swamp Thing, and Batman are the best of the new 52
by sunwukong86
Green Lantern and Batwoman are up there as well.
The other books in the new 52 seem to have no real direction. -
Jan 04, 2012 3:34:29 PM CST
Can someone explain to me why Animal Man and Swamp Thing are so great?
by kungfuhustler84
Because I kind of wanted to just drop them both after the third issue. The art is good but the story isn't gripping me in either one. They are obviously building up to a bigger thing, so maybe I'll just wait til that happens.
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I've dropped them all except Snyder's Batman, Action, and Wonder Woman. The rest just kind of seem like a mess of clean slate and unofficial old continuity.
Meanwhile: Ultimate Spider-man is awesome. So is both of Hickman's Fantastic Four books. -
I respect that you're sticking with your whole "Aquaman is really good, really" story. Really. Good job.
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I like them because theyre not your typical superhero books.
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I was extremely worried when Perez was announced as the writer on this title. But I chose optimism, and as such, was able to convince myself that the first two issues didn't suck. However, they did, and with the 3rd and most recent issues, the emperor is in the buff. This is shockingly boring stuff, no dramatic heft, no humor, just...nothing. Jurgens and Giffen will be better by default, but I'm not against just having Morrison on both Supes titles.
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These were my two favorites until the most current issues. The fourth books on both were a huge drop in quality from what came before. I'm on board for the time being, but they're dragging these first arcs out too long. Time to wrap it up, and shit moving.
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Saw someone mention Ultimate Spiderman above, I'm in complete agreement on its excellence. It would be my favorite superhero title on the stands if Wolverine and the XMen wasn't so fucking good.
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Lands right in the middle in terms of New 52 quality. Not as good as top tier books like WW, Action, and Batman &Robin, but way better Ryan dreck like Grifter, Superman, and Hawk & Dove. It's kind of like Supergirl in that sense.
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AutoCorrect = existence bane
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It's baffling. Maybe I need to go reread the first issue.
Batwoman is fan-friggin'-tastic. -
Grammar Nazis, commence bombing run.
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It looks like they're using that title for a LOT of character development, and so the issues are kinda talky. However, Merino's artwork is very nice, detailed without being confusing, and the story arc is interesting enough, if not particularly original (Superman #145 May 1961"The Interplanetary Circus"; Superman #190, October 1966 "The Element Enemies");to name a few.
However, the Action title gets better with each issue (quite a feat, since it started off fantastic), with issue 5 being a really interesting revisit to Krypton. Kubert's artwork is really extraordinary (except he has a bit of a problem drawing infants), and some of the story detail about the day Krypton explodes is the best I've seen since the take in the 1990's animated version.
There is also a very touching second feature about the Kents that is worth the price of admission all on it's own. -
I have to agree that issue 4 was rough for many if not most of the DC books I still buy. Action was so bad that I couldn't bring myself to shell out $3.99 for it today. Probably for 2.99 I still would've, though.
New favorites ranking:
Wonder Woman
Animal Man
Swamp Thing
Batwing
Voodoo.
Yes, it's crazy to put Voodoo, but that is a real "anything can happen" book and its so much fun to read.
WW now tops my list, cause her first storyline has been bold and extremely entertaining. Don't call her clay, bitches! Having such a great villain as Strife is key as well.
I don't want to be interested in Avengers Vs. X-Men, but I love Wanda Maximoff so very much, and the team makeups are interesting.
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come ON! we purposely reviewed Betty and Veronica for you!!! what more do you want??
;) -
I just think it's funny you complain about the surplus of material in the podcast (or was that OD, can't remember), pointing to the many superhero comics that are released every month, but maybe this wouldn't bother you as much if you actually branched out and discussed comics of different genres, and maybe did more helping other people to find different comics as well.
There are all kinds of comics, something for everyone really at this point, and you folks are doing a disservice to the medium by focusing so much on one genre.
Indie books need love too, usually a lot more than the Big Two books that already get plenty of publicity within the pages of other Big Two books. I propose at least one indie title to be discussed per week!
Also, if you guys really want to be @$$holes and keep talking about all those spandex comics, you could pick a best and worst of each week and leave it at that. The industry is so glutted with extraneous material, it might be fun to take apart one of the lamer titles to help us appreciate the superhero books that are actually good.
I still enjoy listening to the podcast every week and all of you guys are doing a great job keeping it entertaining and informative. This is just some constructive criticism from a concerned fan, but keep on keeping on! -
Quentin Quire totally played Shadowrun.
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we only have so much money to spend on these things. we're definitely trying to branch out more with each show ...we hear you and are gonna get better, promise :)
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If you know Flash is going to be another slow issue, skip it and talk about something that's actually worth people's time and money, like Rucka's new Punisher or Rachel Rising.
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Forget that mediocre 4th issue (and you only noticed it was mediocre because the first three were so stellar).
The fifth issue interlude makes your eyes piss tears.
Same drum, different day: Morrison is the greatest writer of superhero comics the medium's ever known. -
Really? Read the first 4 issues and couldn't find one thing to be interested in. Ennis took the Punisher as far as he could go in realistic, modern-day crime stories. It was fabulous. Aaron took the Punisher into as close a psychological space as the character could possibly accomodate, expertly paced inside a large story filled with gee-whiz villains. It was fabulous.
Remender took the Punisher as far as he could go into a super-heroic universe. Bat-shit, crazy action, loaded with characterization and nuance. It was fabulous.
Greg Rucka's Punisher feels like a very pale combination of the first two writers; with a half-hearted nod to Remender's embracement of super-hero insanity. -
He's the only guy in comics to ever make Wolverine look truly pathetic (in the pages of New X-Men). Bless him for that alone, but I'm glad other writer's haven't let him descend into obscurity.
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Jan 05, 2012 1:23:14 AM CST
i totally talked about Rachel Rising a couple weeks back! AND Jason Aaron's Punisher Max!!!
by poptard_jd
do you listen to the whole show, or just the superhero reviews??
;) -
Jan 05, 2012 1:25:44 AM CST
Ok JD I'm talking about consistent, weekly indie coverage
by kungfuhustler84
Maybe that's asking a lot but a fanboy can dream can't he?
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Jan 05, 2012 1:28:29 AM CST
Honestly I haven't been keeping up with Punisher since Frankencastle ended
by kungfuhustler84
But the guy who runs the LCS raves about it every time a new issue comes out so I figure it warrants a discussion.
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Respect.
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There's a guy who comes into the shop that absolutely loves Rucka's Punisher but i don't see what he likes so much about and i don't have the heart to tell him that i'm not feeling it so i just say, "yeeeah its cool..."
kinda just seems really bland...i'd almost rather read a comic about the two cops than anything else...
i agree with Laserhead it just doesn't stand up to those two runs...maybe i should reread the first few issues or somethin' -
May a man not gush even when he is as giddy as a school girl?
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We have surprises in store for our three listeners, wait and see.
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Ivan Reis is killing it and is one of DC's best pencilers. I know that Johns is the story, but could you at least throw Ivan a bone here?
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Johns allowed for an epic and heroic save that artist Reis was somehow able to make interesting despite the fact the battle was occurring in the murky depths of the ocean
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I'm just giving you respect for undertaking such a sisyphean effort
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Sorry man, I naturally read sarcasm on the intertubes. It's a problem - I'm seeking help ;-).
People need to get over a fucking name...any fan worth their salt should know by now that a silly fucking concept can make for a great fucking comic.
Sorry again man... -
I totally think the assholes should review some indie comics. Maybe they can make it a separate section, then... like Big Eyes for the Cape Guys, it can be totally ignored by most of the readership.
Seriously, though, I agree that, for the most part, the assholes seem to be sticking to really bad DC or small press books lately, but I think the idea of scrounging for the most unknown of unknown comics is just going to be a rose by any other name.
After working in comic stores and movie theatres in my young life, I have been shown by undeniable evidence that the majority of "indie" efforts are actually indie because they're terrible, not because of some domineering and unfair system.
Sure, some books are going undeservedly ignored, but they're the exception, not the rule. I'd agree when you say that the current books the assholes are sticking with aren't that great or entertaining or even good fodder for discussion, but I disagree with the idea that doing more "indie" reviews is a good/entertaining thing. -
That we did cover indies in last week's podcast.
We giggled our way through an Archie interview and I made a specific point to mention that the knowledge of there one day being a Bluewater was the sole reason baby Jesus ever cried.
Sheesh..... -
got any suggestions of stuff to review?
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Some of you may not know this, but I am a Marvel head. And as such, since I lean toward the reviews of books that interest me, my suggestions will head that way too.
I mean really, do we need to find out that another book in the new 52 is at best passable, but not really? Action, Snyder's Batman, Wonder Woman, they're all good and the rest I dropped and it seems like everyone else is more or less on the same page with some slight variations, so where's the discussion?
"Swamp Thing is great."
"I wasn't impressed."
"I see."
Repeat.
Hickman is killing it in the FF books. His Ultimates just gets cooler. Bendis is still writing the hell out of Ultimate Spider-man and the Norman Osbourne stuff in Avengers has been a lot more interesting than what's been going on before that (especially with JRJR off the book). Also, the Wonderman wrap up? Thoughts? Waid's Daredevil? Visually stunning and generally dull or just a DC book in a Marvel world? Walking Dead? Is the comic boring or is it bleedover from the show? Are people still reading Invincible?
Too be fair, you guys do cover a lot of this stuff regularly. I'm not saying you don't. I just think that a major part of each post should go to the books that foster discuss and I think it's easy to see where that lies. (Hint: It's not the new 52.)
Although, let me contradict myself immediately here with this?
Is the new 52 generally bland? -
That's what I mean... I just don't think people are going to get past the name.
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but has anybody who reads this column honestly cared about that book since they were an adolescent?
Criminal: Last of the Innocent was the last Archie book I hope to ever read. -
Jan 05, 2012 3:22:20 PM CST
Also, still not convinced I should keep picking up Swamp Thing or Animal Man
by kungfuhustler84
I agree they are not your typical superhero books but that's because they are really horror titles at heart. Sure, they're heads above most everything else DC is putting out (excluding Batman/woman of course), but their similar stories (disgusting fleshy monsters wanna eat us, oh noes!) don't seem to be bringing the characters to any exciting new places or developments. There is a lot of momentum toward some event that is obviously lingering on the horizon, so why don't I just wait until that happens? It can't be more than five or six months away right?
Maybe I was just spoiled by Moore and Morrison's earlier runs on the characters. Now that was some exciting and unique storytelling with great art on both books. Not a single issue felt redundant or unnecessary, the plots were tight and concise, rarely going for more than two or three issues, and several of the stories were one-shots you could pick up and immediately enjoy.
Btw, if anybody is enjoying the current runs on Swamp Thing and Animal Man, I recommend the earlier Vertigo books of the same characters. You'll probably enjoy them. In my opinion, they are two of the best series DC has ever produced. -
I vote for visually stunning and generally dull. It's not a DC book in a Marvel world, because it's, well, visually stunning.
FF/Fantastic Four, T-Bolts, Red Hulk, Venom, X-Force, Legion of Monsters, all great. I hope Marvel doesn't reset its universe or anything; I like it the way it is. And I'm a guy who's traditionally preferred DC. -
Jan 05, 2012 5:17:16 PM CST
'The majority of "indie" efforts are actually indie because they're terrible, not because of some domineering and unfair system. Sure, some books are going undeservedly ignored, but they're the exception, not the rule.
by pink_apocalypse
It annoys me greatly, but I completely agree with that statement. Once and a while is fine, but I'd rather the focus be kept on more mainstream stuff.
The mainstream titles are so varied that to an outsider looking in, they're a vague blur. I look at a rack and see a jillion Spiderman titles, and am put off at the idea of getting involved. But JD's trumpeting of Ultimate Spiderman convinced me to go buy the first five issues last night.
Hopefully they'll be neat-o, and I'll have found a new good read. Being poorish makes it a 'gamble'. I'm taking an awful risk, Vader. It had better be worth it.
I forgot to pick up the Defenders also, dammit. -
They don't need to reset their universe. They've got the Ultimate Universe.
What's going on in Venom? I saw a weird ad for it with Ghost Rider, red Hulk and Venom and someone else.
Daredevil. I read 4 or 5 issues and it wasn't bad, it just wasn't my thing. Except the art is great, it keeps almost dragging me back on that plus alone. -
This probably goes without saying but I disagree completely. Most indie books are indie because the creators have a vision or original idea they'd like to see realized, and they don't want others to compromise that vision because they are worried about sales. They are independently published because they contain ideas or imagery that is more of a gamble for publishers, not because of a lack of a quality. There's a generalization going on here that I don't think is fair to publishers of independent comics, or their creators.
Of course indie titles shouldn't be the focus of the podcast, but if you can't find at least one solid independent comic every other week or so then you're simply not looking very hard. Weekly? Even better. -
Jan 05, 2012 6:26:20 PM CST
Pink: haha I like that you bought ULT spidey on my recommendation..
by poptard_jd
but then threatened Vader with "they better be good".
I'm comfortable with that. Someone else must take the fall if you are unhappy with my recommendation!!! NOTHING IS MY FAULT. Unless you love it. Then I'll take the credit.
;)
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Jan 05, 2012 6:27:15 PM CST
ps. let me know what you think of Ult Spidey, I'm curious...
by poptard_jd
i'll read it on the air..
email
info@poptardsgo.com
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Jan 05, 2012 6:28:38 PM CST
I'd expect something 'outside the box' every podcast.
by pink_apocalypse
I'm just saying that almost every indie effort I've ever read usually ends up being an ambition that far surpassed ability.
Not all, but most. Control freak doesn't always mean genius. -
Is it just as enjoyable if you never read any of the earlier run? That's what I'd like to know.
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Jan 05, 2012 6:29:03 PM CST
OH!! and buy L'ill Depressed Boy cause I have a pin-up in the back! woot!
by poptard_jd
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Jan 05, 2012 6:34:24 PM CST
Kungfuhustler: yes it is. I have put that issue in the hands of people..
by poptard_jd
who have never read ultimate spidey before. As long as you understand who Peter is and that he died protecting those he loved, you're good to go.
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Jan 05, 2012 6:45:23 PM CST
ps. I'm calling Shenanigans on this we don't review enough Indie books thing:
by poptard_jd
So far we've reviewed these comics NOT from the Big Two:
The Boys
Betty & Veronica
iZombie
Sweet Tooth
Fables
Comic Book Comics
Invincible
The Guild
So SUCK it, sayers of nay!!
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Jan 05, 2012 6:46:24 PM CST
ok well Fables is Vertigo which is DC. so maybe that one doesn't count. STILL!
by poptard_jd
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Jan 05, 2012 6:53:40 PM CST
The Vader reference was just an awkward Star Wars quote.
by pink_apocalypse
Because awkward is how I roll.
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because I mentioned reviewing non DC/Marvel books a few weeks back.
got a question concerning Ultimate Spiderman...I was never a huge Spidey fan so will it be different enough for me to enjoy? I'm willing to give the first trade a shot.Assuming there is a first trade.
oh...thanks for forever ruining Scarlet Witch in this weeks podcast,you a$$holes!! :) -
I'm currently standing just a lllliiiitttle too close to you, all up in your personal space.
I'm not quite as bad as Buster from Arrested Development, but I'm up there.
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What is it you don't like about PeterSpidey?
..and I'll tell you if it's different with Miles. -
Did you have a couple of snafus this week or did my comp not download it correctly? Pretty sure I heard most of it but there were a few weird moments audiowise.
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Jan 05, 2012 8:06:05 PM CST
I assume the audio glitches were intentional, done in post.
by pink_apocalypse
I thought they were weird and kinda funny. As opposed to the Scarlet Witch stuff, which I just rolled my eyes and ignored.
I hope they bring her back in a plausible way, but not as much as I hope for a Huntress series. -
Jan 05, 2012 8:28:21 PM CST
Audio troubles/what Scarlet Witch stuff? that she is evil and should remain as such?
by poptard_jd
why is that eye-roll worthy?
and yes, I added in the TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES audio where appropriate as I was editing. once for realsies and once because I got creepy about Felicia Day -
The guy has created (written and drawn) some of the most original mini-series of the last 30 years. Big thanks for reviewing his new one.
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Eddy Current
Enginehead
Faith
Industrial Gothic (a personal favorite)
Metropol
Plastic Forks
The Extremist
Toxic Gumbo
Transit
If you haven't read any of those, do yourself a favor and search some of them out. All good reads.
His Elseworlds work (particularly Batman Nosferatu) and Doom Patrol run are also quite good. -
I just wanted a superhero comic.Didn't care about his love life,personal issues.Granted,that was a LONG time ago and my tastes have grown since then but that's the crux of it.
and before I get pummelled on the internet,if it wasn't for comics(and Spidey in particular) I'm not sure I would've learned how to read at such an early age.I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.;) -
...you could do an entire column on them. I've considered sending y'all some reviews myself. Not sure it's something I'm good at, though.
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maybe it was douche and not you.
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Kung fu
I think you're over-romanticizing the "Indie" scene.
JD
I don't think any of the ones you named were the type of Indie books people were talking about. -
SwaMp Thing, the new series, has writing that is pretty good (Animal Man on the other hand is brilliant and unmissable)
it's the digital INKING on that title that is so distracting and inappropriate. why in the name of hell a title that has always relied on being kinda scratchy and weird and organic would punk out with heavy linework and digital inks is beyond me. I couldn't get past the second issue. And the writing... is good... but its not like, amazing or anything. Reads like someone trying to do a Vertigo thing but missing it, really. That vibe. Which is more than witchy hoodoo and gore, it's mystery. You ain't never gonna get a writer of the Geoff Johns school to capture that sort of Twilight Zone strangeness
Does anyone remember Books of Magic??
And DARK CRYSTAL, shit, obviously Froud and the other designers are raring to tell more stories in that world, what the hell is stopping the Hensons? Don't they have piles of money? Wasn't it Jim's dream to stop with the kiddie stuff and do the adult fantasy of Crystal and Storyteller? It's a shame he's not alive today, because we're living in an era now where something the Storyteller series would get HUGE ratings
Both the Crystal movie and Fraggle Rock have been in development hell for a decade or something. Genndy Tartofsky was an inspired choice for director, and maybe so is the Spierig Brothers... but man, BRIAN HENSON, stop hosting roundtable discussions with yuppie asswipes like Neil Patrick Harris and REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS!! when you played the dog on Storyteller, Hoggle in Labyrinth. The World is crying out for GOOD, weird fantasy again, not the kind that relies on computers to paint the damn shadows in!!
CREATURE SHOP FOREVAAAAAAHH -
Jan 06, 2012 1:03:20 AM CST
Life with Archie isn't grim n gritty buuuuuuuuuuuut
by creamcheesealchemist
There's an Archie multiverse where at least one character's screwed his life up in each timeline. Give it a shot. This month, you'll make the Christian Wrong cry by doing so. I had my doubts too but I plunged in because of the art and now I've got another reason to be grateful for Anarky.
Speaking of which, I really hope he shows up in the nu52. The real one, not that cosplayer who really should've been dispatched by his siblings during Blackest Night. -
Jan 06, 2012 1:14:52 AM CST
Joenathan, I'm not saying every indie book is going to be quality
by kungfuhustler84
But saying a lot of independent books are what they are due to a lack of quality just seems short sighted. Just like there are lots of terrible books that still get published by the mainstream companies, there are plenty of works from the likes of Charles Burns, Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, the Hernandez brothers, and now even Kate Beaton that prove just how wonderful independent comics are. Sure their collective work is exceptional to the general output, but it's the same for superhero comics. There will always be a lot of mediocre crap that makes the good stuff shine all the brighter.
I'm probably being naive, but I would hope really crappy books never even make it to a publisher or get distributed. Of course they do though. Maybe you could set me straight with the realist's perspective on independent books? -
I hope the creative goldmine the Henson's are sitting on is let out soon. Things are looking that way with this Dark Crystal book and Jim Henson's Tale of Sand also newly released.
Now if we could just get Storyteller back on the air. God I loved that show! -
Jan 06, 2012 1:23:28 AM CST
Tartakovsky would have probably killed it...in a good way
by kungfuhustler84
Every property that guy touches is solid gold, incredibly entertaining and well composed, but still with a lot of heart.
-
I know why Pink_Apoc rolled her eyes, it was my comment.
I couldn't figure out why anyone would try to find a "hero" that basically committed genocide.
Someone then tried to compare her to Hal Jordan.
I made the astute if slightly off color point that Hal was possessed, Scarlet was simply having her bad time of the month. Then Bug followed with now we know why they call her Scarlet.
JD edited it our, but we actually said right after we made the comments we prolly just lost Pink_Apoc.
This is just how I think - sorry. Men and Women have our flaws, and some of those are directed to our differences in physiology. I hate the fucking PC bullshit that tells us we should turn a blind eye to these differences.
My wife admits, periods suck and as such she is a little bitchy during that special time. Because of this honesty, we have no fights. I prefer to live this way and sorry to anyone that chooses not to recognize this simple fact of life. Your choice, so no judgment, that's just not how I choose to live. -
Like everything in life I use my experience to compartmentalize and analyze the state of things.
I’ve been doing this review gig for five years now and to lump indies into one category is narrow and short sighted.
The first thing to get on the table, Image is no longer indie, and I would place Dark Horse close to this mark as well. For me, it all boils down to production value and the resources to promote a book and disseminate to the market at large. While neither has the strong corporate backbone of funds as the big two, both Image and Dark Horse have enough resources and more importantly a self sustaining business model to pull them out of indie status in my opinion. Their books are just as, if not more so polished in some instances as DC and Marvel.
So what’s left…a whole fucking lot!
Within a given week I will receive between twenty to thirty emails for review requests. They can be lumped as follows…and go from least to greatest in quality.
CREATOR OWNED: This category is your Avatar…your Icon…to a certain extent IDW and Dynamite. Again these guys are damn close to not being indie. They don’t have the same marketing muscle (yes even Icon – The marketing dollars are simply not as voluminous as the funds that flow to their Marvel brethren), but the quality is still top notch.
SMALLER PLAYERS: Here again quality can be top notch, I’m biased because I have a publishing contract with them, but COM.X is a sterling example of this category – a small guy with an eye towards quality, but not a deluge of funds compared to the Big 2 or our first indie category. Zenescope is another company I would put in this category. I might also add Bluewater, but I have a personal bias against what they produce so I wouldn’t say quality for 99% of their books, but others might disagree.
OH CANADA: There are a slew of guys using offshore printing to get books out. The only rub is that they don’t have the funds to produce enough books to meet Diamonds draconian standards for insertion into Previews. Some of these books are stellar quality, sadly though, they never reach a mass audience. DEAR CREATURE is a sterling example of this. A brilliant book that the masses will never hear about. Sad. Now, there’s also a lot of shit in this category. But by the very virtue of the creators putting a financial investment into these books, there is a standard of consistency, quality and commitment to telling an ongoing story.
WEB COMICS: Yes, there is some wonderful stuff here, but there’s a lot that’s not. Commitment is key here. Also, I am harder on Web Comics because of my day job, so I don’t just look at the book itself I also look at how the book is presented for the format. Things like the viewing player, site structure and design also play here because of the medium chosen by the creator. They could have the most wonderful concept in the world, but of I can’t find the book because of bad navigation or have to constantly scroll, zoom and or click to read panel by panel this hurts the experience greatly. A great example of a horrid interface for retrieving comics in the web is Edelweiss. DC is trying these guys out for some of their graphic novels now and it makes me sad, horrid horrid interface with a bullshit Adobe back-end.
PDF DISSEMINATION: Just stop now if you only produce in PDF. PDFs fucking blow. The two page splash is non-existent. The one page splashes are even lost depending on monitor size. Now, I read a lot of PDFs because I understand the nature of doing business. Smaller presses can’t afford to send out a ton of hard copy comps to PR outlets, so I will read and review a PDF when I know there is a hard copy counterpart that will be hitting the shelves.
HEY I HAVE AN IDEA: So with my idea I produce two pages of content and call it a comic. Personally, I hate comic strips, so these guys will never have a chance in my universe. Two pages every three months is not a commitment. For the guys that do reach the finish line and get a full issue from these drips and drabs, you can clearly see how this is a bad process for producing a book. Everything is disjointed and choppy from story flow to art. Wait until you have a cohesive first arc before you reach out to the press. We have too many other choices of actual completed books to divert our attention. -
yeah, I was the one that said "whelp, with that, we JUST lost Pink_Apocalypse", haha. Shit I meant to keep that in, but I had to edit in a super rush since we did the podcast the night before it was to go up. Oh well.
-
Jan 06, 2012 7:31:11 AM CST
Hell we are always open to suggestions, but they will get lost here. If you have a legitimate suggestion email us at info@poptardsgo.com
by poptard_jd
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Thanks Douche. Sounds like you really know what you're talking about. I agree the web is where you can find some of the best independent comics nowadays.
I am now really intrigued by Dear Creature and am considering ordering a copy for myself for my birthday. If you have any more comics that are under the radar you'd like to recommend, please don't hesitate to share! -
It was not 'too far', or 'highly offensive' to me. It was just dumb. So I rolled my eyes and ignored it. It's the kind of stupid thing my boyfriend would laugh at. I don't view guys just being guys as sexist or misogynistic, like some feminists do.
If I'm ever actually offended, I'll let you know. -
No one should ever come here for our heightened sense of maturity.
While I love comics, one of the main reasons I've done this gig for so long is the cathartic release of immaturity it gives me from my day job writing about corporate tax solutions. -
When I receive a true indie treasure you guys do hear about it. DEAR CREATURE is a perfect example. I shelfed some pretty big books that week because I knew I only had time to write one review.
This is Aint It Cool News after all - indie treasures constitute true news IMHO.
Generally, when I hate an indie, I don't review it. The danger of it getting into the hands of readers is minimal (unlike when the big guys produce crap) plus I see no need to diminish the creative spirit. Because while the current endeavor might suck ass, it doesn't mean they lack the potential for future greatness.
Now, there are times though when I'm just in a bad mood and need something to shit on. I pity the piss poor creator that gets me during those weeks.
-
I love hanging in geek circles because the company is usually more intelligent then average (statistically, even!).
I assume you are Gen X also. It appears to me that we as a collective group in society have rejected preconceived notions of what is 'acceptable' at certain ages, or what is 'mature' or 'immature'. I think at this point we can agree that some comic book and video game venues have evolved enough in sophistication and creativity to be just as 'valid' a hobby choice for adults as, say...watching men on steroids chase inflated chunks of leather around.
Behavior men display talking comics or watching The Big Game is all the same, because boys will be boys, and it's part of your charm.
Being heckled and disrespected are two different things. I can usually tell the difference. -
Yes, I am Gen X as are most of the AICN @$$holes.
I was a theater major in college. I acted in a show where we did a play about disaffected Gen X, but as part of our research the director had us read a book that outlined the 13 generations of Americans that have come before.
The reality is that every generation changes the mores and values of the past.
Also, if we're going to talk specifically about comics, the medium has evolved exponentially towards an older demographic from a content perspective.
I don't blame my Grandfather for casting aside comics when he entered adulthood, because comics were still geared towards kids. This is why I simply groan at golden age and for the most silver age comic books.
Yes, they were great for what they were in pushing the medium forward, but everything about them still spoke to children.
Likewise with video games. If we never evolved past the simple dynamics of Pong or the Atari 2600, I probably would not play anymore (I actually have a pretty funny story about how I got my first Atari when I was five).
However, you give me a game like Skyrim, well that's a whole different ball of wax.
We also have a slew of more free time than past generations. Also also we're not in such a rush to start having families right after marriage anymore. Back in the day, if you wanted some nookie -- you would need to be prepared for the possible cookie that results. -
Jan 06, 2012 12:43:52 PM CST
But did you, in point of fact, do it all for the nookie? That's what Durst claimed.
by pink_apocalypse
And Skyrim has swallowed up my life. Before I can marry the sexy slab of man that is Balimund, I have to go on a murder spree through the Dark Brotherhood questline, just to get to a friggin' wedding dress.
But I wildly digress. -
that is 'too far' AND 'highly offensive' to me...really, there's no excuse!
-
Jan 06, 2012 4:47:56 PM CST
Not sure how sound that logic is since Image and Dark Horse release numerous creator owned titles
by jaka
Jus' sayin'.
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was that I'll never look at her again without thinking about the once a month thing which I found hilarious,btw.
sorry for the confusion. -
I think I'm right on the border. Born in 1980.
-
I've always dated older men. Now I've gone the other way.
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